Mechanism for sliver control



Oct. 1 1, 1930. J. H. DAMON- I MECHANISM FOR SLIVER CONTROL Filed Dec. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet' 1 Jul/anion John 192 17a 7210 :1

Oct. 14; 1930. J. H. DAMON MECHANISM FOR SLIVER CONTROL Filed Dec. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WW 0% E Z M a Q K the predetermined desired thickness.

Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I JOHN H. DAMON, OF PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 PLYMOUTH CORDAGE COMPANY, OF PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MECHANISM FOR SLIVER CONTROL Application filed December 27, 1929. Serial No. 416,975.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for sliver control. More particularly it relates to fibre preparing machines and the like, wherein a sliver of fibre, as

hemp, flax or sisal, may be drawn out and so reduced to a sizeanduniformity suitable for binder twine, rope yarns, and kindred products. The invention introduces improvements for controlling the size of the sliver, produced by the machine, so that a desired thickness thereof shall be attained and maintained automatically.

In machines of this general description, a number of bunches of fibres, eight or ten, for 5 example, may be fed, side by side, into the machine, there to undergo a drawing-out process such that the aggregate of their-crosssectional areas is reduced as desired. A common method is based upon'the co-action of two endless belts or chains carrying fibreengaging pins. Both belts are generally arranged horizontally and in the same plane, one in advance of the other and both travel in the same direction but'at different speeds, '25 the leading belt, i. e. that nearer the delivery end of the machine, being the faster. The fibresvare drawn, by the'pins of the slower belt, and are delivered to the second belt, 7 whose faster moving pins effect the drawing or combing of the fibres so that the mass gradually is reduced and thinned prior to the compacting of the fibres into sliver form. The bunches of fibre fed into the machine are each somewhat'irregular; and when a '35 number are'combined,side by side, these irregularities sometimes combine to make the aggregate extra thick or extra thin. Here- :tofore it has been a difiicult if not an impossible task to produce slivers having uniformly Attempts have. been made to gauge the incoming material, and to regulate the drawing actioni'of the machine according to the vary ing amount of material which is being sup- ??4 plied B t nonesuch have really accom- .plished the desired end; and the slivers which they produce have substantial variations in thickness at intervals along the sliver.

,. By the present invention an increase or 59 decrease in the drawing'efiect of the "machine on the supplied fibres is occasioned by incipient variations in the thickness of the finished sliver, above or below a predetermined desired thickness. A feature of importance is that the sliver, at the place of its effect upon the control mechanism, is fully formed and compacted; and thus even slight departures from the predetermined thickness can be detected. As the fibres individually may be eight or ten feet or more in length, the regions of thinness or thickness in the sliver develop'slowly and, under the above conditions of gauging accurately the finished product, the incipiency of a thinness can be detected, and the drawing action of the ma chine changed by the automatic apparatus provided, with such instantaneous effect that the regularity of the product is much better maintained than by the old method. In connection with this there may be means for indicatin the prevailing thickness of the fin islied sliver. It is moreover'an important feature that the invention iseconomical to make, and may be installed at small cost on the machines now in common use.

These objects and results may be attained, according to the invention, by employing a system of levers and connections, one of which levers is pivotally mounted above the delivery rolls of the machine, and has a projecting arm, preferably equipped with 'a roller, resting on the movable one of the delivery rolls. A pointer is arranged to move over an indicator scale whenever the said lever moves; and connections extending rearward operate a change speed mechanism, to cause an increased or decreased drawing effect on the fibres. Where the control device is applied to a machine having the two belts ofpins, as herein illustrated, the'slower belt preferably will be the one affected; but a like result may be obtained by varying the speed of the faster moving belt while, the speed of the slower belt is maintained constant.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

.In the accompanying drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a fibre preparing machine em- I bodying features of the invention;

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a fibre preparing machineof a well known type wherein two systems offfibre-engaging pins 10, 12 are mountedrespectively on end less belts 14, 16 for travel horizontally, in

like planes andin. like direction, over a base 18'. Belt 16 is arranged in advance of belt 14 and has a greater speed of travel.

Y Each belt embodies two side chains 20: cross-bars 22, which-latter carry the pins 10, 12. The slower. moving-belt 14has its side I chains trainedv over sprockets 24 on shafts 26, 28-, and its pins 10 are adapted to engage and draw forward a mass 30 of long fibres which may be fed into the machine through the-rollers 32.. The other and fastertravelling belt 16 i's'mounted in like manner on shafts 34, 36, the latter shaft being the main drive shaft of the machine, receiving its power from any suitable source (not shown) Thus the faster moving belt travels at constantspeed. The slower belt is driven indirectly from shaft 36 through a variable speed device indicatedgenera-lly at'38, and its speed of travel maybe varied as desired. In the drawings (Figure 2) a well known variable speed transmission is illustrated, in which a constant speed ble speedshaft 42 each has a pair of conesurfaced disks'44 mounted for the disks .of

each pair to be spreadable apart relatively, and to be adj-ustabletoward each other relatively. And a 'V-type belt 46 is trained over the disks to transmitpower from the con.- stant speed shaft to the variable speed shaft 42. Turning of screw 48, effects, through arms 50, a spreading ofthe disks on one shaft and a closing together of the disks on the other shaft, therebyto'cause belt-'46 to r de high upon the disks which stand close tog'ethenand low 'on the spread disks. If

the belt is higher on the disks; of the variable speed shaft 1 42 than j on the; other pair of disks, as herein illustrated thereiwillbe a re 'duction in the speed "of rotation :of'the va- ,riable speed shaft 42 over the constantspeed shaft 40. 'Andthea'mount of the reduction may be v'ariedat willvby shifting of the disks 44,'relatively. A cros s belt 52drives the'constant speed shaft 40 ofthe transmission from the rnaindrive shaft36 below; And a chzain shaft 40 anda varia-' 54 drives shaft 28 of the slower moving belt- ,14 from the variable speed shaft 42 of the mension throughout the full length of each delivered sliver, by detecting instantly each incipient variation from uniformity; and for indicating the thickness of finished sliver prevailing at'every instant. For this purpose, a lever 58 is pivoted at59 on the frame below and ,to one side of the usualdelivery rolls 60. A secondlever 62 ismounted above and a little to the rearofthedelivery'rolls, pivoted at one end to-the frame, as at 64, and havinga side-wise projecting arm 65 whose end, preferably equipped with roller 66 rests on the upper one of the delivery rolls, which roll is movablevertically to accommodate variations in the thickness of sliver. The movableend of lever 62is con nected by adjustable link 68 to lever 58 below, as at 69.

Lever 58 has its rear arm held downyieldingly by the spring 70, and thisarm pulls down on .the vertically extending link 68 which, small-detecting roller 66,'riding on top of upper delivery roll .60. "The sliver is laterallyconfin'ed, as is usual, infa 'groovein the under delivery roll' 60, into which fitsv the upper roll 60, so that every variation in volume is manifest-bye change of elevation of theupper roll 60; and this movement reaches the lever 58in magnified amplitude, due to the leverage 62. Forward of its fulcrum 59 the lever'58 carries anupstanding arm 72 at whose tip is aslot through which passes the forward end of a rod 74, with yielding connection indicated by the springs 76, which rod receives the magnified fluctuations of the The lever 58' also carries, forward of its.

fulcrum 59, a pointer 82 which is adapted to move over a scale 84 indicating. thickness of thesli-ver whichis being delivered. The upstanding lever 78 has'sprocketchain "86 connected from its one end to the other and trained over small sprocket 88, fast on theendiof screw 48 of the variable speed device 38. V The actuating rod 74 is connected atj90 oni the upper arm of lever 78,.close to thatlevers pivotrso that even. small move.- mentsof the rod 74 will effect relatively large movements at; the lever ends, and thus of the sprocket 88 andscrew48.

throughlever 62 presses down on the relative to In operation, the entering fibre mass 30 is sub]ected to a drawing or combing by the engagement of the two systems of pins 10, 12

grouped for passage between the delivery rolls 30. Inasmuch as the sliver is completely formed and compressed bet-ween the delivery rolls 60, any variations in its thickness, even of very slight character, will cause the upper delivery roll 60 to react in a vertical direction. The sensitive roller 66 will react in a like direction; and, through the magnifying leverage 62, will actuate lever 58 to in dicate the variation on scale 84; and through its connection to actuating rod 74 will swing the lever 78 and the chain 86 so as to effect a turning of screw 48 of the variable speed transmission 88. The turning of this screw 48 effects a shifting of disks e4 to change the speed of the slower moving pin belt 14. If the sliver is above a predetermined desired thickness, the pin belt 1e will be slowed down a little to cause a greater drawing and thinning of the mass of fibre. If the sliver is too thin, the belt 1 will be speeded up, and the result will be less thinning effect.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fibre preparing machine having means for drawing and delivering the fibres in sliver form, the combination, with said means, of mechanism, applied to the sliver at the place of its delivery, being there applied to the final cross-section of the sliver as completed by the machine, and responsive to variations in its cross sectional dimensions; a control device for the drawing; and connections between said mechanism and said control device, whereby the responses of said mechanism are communicated to said device to vary the degree of drawing.

2. In a fibre preparing machine the combination, with two systems of fibre engaging pins, cooperating at different rates of travel to draw fibre, of a movable member applied to a sliver produced by the drawing, and moved by variations in the dimension of such sliver, and connections between said member and one of the systems of travelling pins for varying the speed of travel of that system,whereby the movement of said member effects a change in the speed of travel of that system the speed of travel of the other system.

3. In a fibre preparing machine having in combination two systems of fibre engaging pins cooperatin at diverse speeds to draw the fibres; a device for varying the speed of travel of one said system: a pair of delivery rolls between which the drawn fibre passes, one of them being movable relative to the other and held apart therefrom by the inter- From these rolls the thinned mass travels over an apron 9-4 to the com pressor rolls 96, and finally the fibres 31 are vening fibre; means pressing against the movable delivery roll and adapted to move in unison withsaid roll; and operating connections between said means and'said speed varying device for varying the speed of travel of one system, whereby movements of said v.ineans eli'ect change of speed of tr vel of one ot the systems of vpins relative to the other system.

4L. In a fibre preparing machine having a relatively slow moving belt of fibre engaging pins, a faster moving belt of pins taking fibre from the first, means for varying the speed of travel out one said belt, and delivery rolls set one above the other with the upper of them loosely movable vertically toward and from the lower of them; the combination therewith 01 motion amplifying mechanism resting against the upper delivery roll and actuated by its said movements; and connection between said mechanism and said speed varying means, for amplifying the effect of said movements and for actuating said means to vary the speed of travel of said one belt of pins relative to the other belt.

5. In a fibre preparing machine having a relatively slow moving belt of fibre engaging pins, a faster moving belt of pins drawing from it, means for varying the speed relaion of the said belts, and delivery rolls between which the fibre passes, set one above the other with the upper roll loosely movable vertically toward and away from the lower roll; the combination therewith of a pivoted lever having one arm in position to press toward the upper delivery roll and be actuated bv movements of said roll; other levers transmitting the motion: an actuating rod extending from the final lever of this series and control mechanism, for said means for vary: ing speed. to which the said actuating rod is connected.

6. In a fibre preparing machine having a relativelv slow moving belt of fibre engaging pins. a faster moving; belt of pins drawing from it. means for varying the speed relation of the said belts and delivery rolls between which the fibre passes, set one above the other with the up er roll loosely movab e vertically toward and away from the lower roll: the combination therewith of a pivoted lever having one arm in position to press toward the upper delivery roll and be actuated by movements of said roll; other levers transmitting and amplifying the motion; a pointer on the final lever of the series; an indicating scale over which the pointer is arranged to move, visually indicating thickness of the sliver; an actuating rod extending from the said final lever; another lever pivoted near said means for varying speed, to which lever the said actuating rod is connected; and a chain and sprocket connection between the ends of the last mentioned lever and said means for varying speed, whereby actuations e of that-lever by the rodefi'ect change of speed of travel of one of said belts-0f pins. 7 7. In a fibre preparing machine having means for drawing anddelivering the fibres in sliver form, the combination, with said means of sliver gauging mechanism, constantly bearing upon and sensitive. to the 1 cross-section of sliver which is being dewhich the sliver material .issubjected prior V to reaching said gauge.

-20thdayof December, 1929.

livered; and means, controlled by said gang ing mechanism, for varying the drawing to Signed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, this JOHN-H. DAMON. 

